This blog is about family, including those in my family tree, the primary focus, but also the family of faith, the family of community, and ultimately the family of man. It is a journey of discovery: Who they were, What they did (and Why), and When, Where, and How they lived.

Friday, May 4, 2018

In the news, Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.Some sources may require subscription.

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from Asia Times Online

Discovery could smash China’s rare-earths strangleholdA mineral deposit has been found in Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Western Pacific, with a size and concentration comparable to China's. The finding of rare-earths mineral deposits in Japanese territory could potentially overthrow China’s dominance in that market.

Syria, Iran and ‘chaos in international relations’Any meaningful political resolution to the turmoil in the Middle East now seems more elusive than ever. According to Russia, Putin and Rouhani agreed that the joint strikes by France, UK, and US have damaged the chances of achieving any meaningful political resolution in Syria.

Japan-China relations strained over rare earths findGlobal reliance on advanced technology, ranging from major home appliances to computers to microchips to medical devices, makes the demand for rare-earth metals high and ongoing. Rare-earth metals or elements, also known as rare earths, are a group of 17 chemically similar elements crucial to the manufacture of many hi-tech products.

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from Competitive Enterprise Institute

RIGHT-CENTER BIAS

SEC to Propose Investor Fiduciary RuleIn the wake of a court ruling against a controversial Obama-era Labor Department rule expanding liability for investment advice, the Securities and Exchange Commission today is expected to offer its own version of such a rule. CEI senior fellow John Berlau hopes for a better result that does not once again disadvantage middle class investors:

Living the Christian Life with C. S. LewisThe best books about C. S. Lewis make us want to turn, or return, to Lewis himself. Joe Rigney’s new book, a sort of systematic theology for Lewis, does just that. Lewis on the Christian Life: Becoming Truly Human in the Presence of God is an irresistible hook for those less acquainted with Lewis (who will now scramble to read him) and a familiar feast for old Lewis friends who wish to study his thoughts on the Christian life in a single commentary.

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from The Living ChurchMagazine of The Living Church Foundation (Anglican)

MORNING DIARY OF A CATHEDRAL CANON
With the tenor bell summoning me out the door, I step onto the pavement of weather-worn stone to make my way into Brecon Cathedral for Morning Prayer. I live in an old almonry, parts of which date back to the Middle Ages when monks oversaw the priory’s care for the local poor.